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Accessible conformations of melanin‐concentrating hormone: A molecular dynamics approach
Author(s) -
Paul P. K. C.,
DauberOsguthorpe P.,
Campbell M. M.,
Brown D. W.,
Kinsman R. G.,
Moss C.,
Osguthorpe D. J.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
biopolymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1097-0282
pISSN - 0006-3525
DOI - 10.1002/bip.360290315
Subject(s) - chemistry , molecular dynamics , peptide , side chain , cyclic peptide , molecular model , peptide conformation , melanin concentrating hormone , nuclear overhauser effect , dynamics (music) , disulfide bond , stereochemistry , computational chemistry , nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy , biochemistry , neuropeptide , organic chemistry , receptor , polymer , physics , acoustics
Molecular dynamics simulations have been used to search for the accessible conformations of the melanin‐concentrationg hormone (MCH). The studies have been performed on native MCH and two of its peptide fragments, a cyclic MCH(5–14) fragment and a linear MCH(5–14) fragment. An analysis of the molecular dynamics trajectories of the three peptides indicates that two regions of the peptide have characteristic conformational properties that may be important for the biological activity. One is a region around Gly 8 , which is conformationally mobile, and the other is around Pro 13 , which shows unusual rigidity. The molecular dynamics simulation results are discussed in terms of backbone structural features like β turns, side‐chain interactions, and orientations of the disulfide bridge. The results of this analysis are used to suggest new analogues that will modify the conformational features of the peptide and further define the conformational requirements for activity. Finally, the results are related to nmr studies of the peptide and reveal agreements between the experimental nuclear Overhauser effect constraints and some of the accessible conformations obtained from the simulation.